Karnataka Man Among Victims of Suspected Targeted Shooting in Toronto

A 37-year-old Indian-Canadian, identified as Chandan Kumar Raja Nandakumar from Brampton, died after a shooting in a Toronto mall car park. Toronto Police said unidentified attackers opened fire in the busy shopping area, and Nandakumar later died in hospital from critical gunshot injuries.

Nandakumar was an IT professional originally from Karnataka, according to Toronto Police. The case has drawn attention among young Indians and the wider diaspora, as it adds to growing anxiety about safety for Indians in Canada following several recent violent incidents.

Toronto shooting and Indians in Canada safety concerns

The killing took place at Woodbine Shopping Centre, near the junction of Rexdale Boulevard and Highway 27. Police received a call about gunfire at about 3:31 p.m. on Saturday. Responding officers found Nandakumar in the parking lot with serious gunshot wounds.

Officers rushed Nandakumar to hospital, where doctors tried to save his life. Police later confirmed that the injuries were too severe and Nandakumar died. Investigators said the attacker or attackers left the mall area in a vehicle, and officers are still trying to trace that car.

Toronto shooting investigation and witness search

Images from the scene, shared by CTV News, showed a white SUV with several bullet holes in the front windscreen and a smashed driver-side window. Police noted that this incident is Toronto's third homicide of the year, adding pressure on investigators to quickly gather strong evidence.

Investigators have said they do not see the shooting as random and believe Nandakumar was targeted. "I can understand how a shooting like this, especially at a mall, can cause concern for the safety of the public," Inspector Errol Watson was quoted as saying by CBC News. Watson said officers would search the area for witnesses, CCTV recordings, and any other useful clues.

Toronto shooting linked to wider attacks on Indians in Canada
The death comes against a backdrop of rising concern over attacks on Indians in Canada. Government data presented in Parliament on February 6 stated that 17 Indian students in Canada were killed in violent incidents between 2018 and 2025, the highest number among countries tracked during that period.